subnormal number

Input interpretation

subnormal number

Definition

For a particular format in the IEEE 754-2008 framework, a subnormal number is a nonzero floating-point number with magnitude less than the magnitude of that formatÕs smallest normal number. As a result, a subnormal number in a given format fails to use the full precision available to normal numbers of the same format.
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Related terms

arithmetic | biased exponent | floating-point algebra | floating-point arithmetic | floating-point exponent | floating-point normal number | floating-point number | floating-point preferred exponent | floating-point quantum | floating-point representation | IEEE 754-2008 | interval arithmetic | NaN | quiet NaN | signaling NaN | significand | subnormal

Subject classifications

MathWorld

general computer science

MSC 2010

68-XX
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